Radium Hotsprings Wildlife

Wildlife

The East Kootenay Region has the unique distinction of being able to support one of North America's largest number of wild animals.

Enjoying the wilderness around Radium Hot Springs and in the B.C. Provincial Parks means being responsible and taking precautions against harming the habitat of the many wild animals and plants in the region.

For information on safety around Bears & Cougars please read the BC Parks Information provided in this link. For more information on BC Provincial Parks please visit BC Parks.

Hunting

Ten big game species are found within its 26,000 square kilometer area. The total big game population exceeds 100,000 animals yielding densities of approximately four animals per square kilometer. Big game found in the Region include white tail and mule deer, elk, caribou, moose, mountain goat, mountain sheep, black and grizzly bear and cougar.

Fishing

The abundance of streams and lakes in the East Kootenay support sport fisheries and serve as important spawning and rearing areas for a variety of species. Dolly Varden, Rainbow, Cut-throat, Eastern Brook trout, Mountain Whitefish and Kokanee make up the majority of catches in the Kootenay River and its tributaries. In addition, many lakes are stocked with fish from the Provincial hatchery near Wardner.

Bird Watching

Visit www.adventurevalley.com for Birdwatching info and the yearly "Wings Over the Rockies" event.

Wolves

This elusive predator was nearly eliminated from this area in the early 1900's and again in 1940. After an absence of 30 years wolves were sighted again in Kootenay National Park in the winter of 1982- 83. Wolves in varying numbers have occupied the Kootenay Valley ever since, and wolf packs also occur at least intermittently in parts of the Columbia Valley.

Quick facts about Wolves

• travel in packs
• travel about 18 km a day, can easily cover over 70 km a day when they pace along a trail or fire road at their usual 10 km per hour
• average pack consumes approximately one large mammal a week.
• prey on elk, deer, moose, mountain sheep, marmots, ground squirrels, hares, mice
• and even spawning salmon

Big Horn Sheep

These majestic animals symbolize the rugged beauty and wildlife of the Rocky Mountains. During the Fall, Winter and Spring months, Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep of the Radium-Stoddart herd are frequently seen in the Village of Radium Hot Springs and on neighbouring low elevation benchlands and the valley bottom.

In Summer, they graze the high mountain meadows of Kootenay National Park and have their young. Fall brings them back to into the Columbia Valley for the Winter. Every Fall the Radium Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce sponsors Head Banger Tours.

Quick Facts about Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep:

1. mating time is November to December, head-on combat between rams is displayed
2. female ewes resemble domestic goats with short horns
3. male rams have large curved spiral horns
4. eat mostly grasses
5. prefer open grassland areas
6. predators are wolves, cougar, grizzly bears and golden eagles

Please drive carefully and watch for wildlife crossing roads!

"Drive as if their life depends on it"